Splash and spill guard for refrigerator ice cube trays



Feb. 6, 1962 s. A. MALTHANER ETAL 3,019,617

SPLASH AND SPILL-GUARD FOR REFRIGERATOR ICE CUBE TRAYS Filed March 26, 1958 H f i j 6 f 1A2 u L u l u 20' INVENTORB rates hoe Eylvester A. Malthaner, 4221 Pinecrest Road, Rockford, Elk, and Robert L. .iaciilin, Box 831), RR. 2, Wheaten,

lll.

Filed Mar. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 724,089 9 Claims. (Cl. 62-361) This invention relates to a splash and spill guard for refrigerator ice cube trays.

The principal object of our invention is to provide a cover for the top of the insert grid designed to fit fairly closely inside the tray so that water will not be spilled if the tray happens to be tilted a little one way or another in carrying it from the sink to the refrigerator, the cover being, however, left open at the middle along both sides of the longitudinal partition so that there is nothing to interfere with the easy filling of the tray with water.

An especially advantageous feature of the present cover, which is preferably of polyethylene, is the fact that it does not adhere to the ice, and will not, therefore, interfere with the easy removal of the ice cubes, if the tray is filled to a level where the cover comes in contact with the ice cubes.

The polyethylene cover being flexible and resilient has its open middle portion entered in notches provided on both sides of the upwardly extending middle portions of the parallel divider plates, thus making for easy assembly or disassembly, and at the same time avoiding any interference whatsoever with the normal functioning of the grid when the lever thereon is raised to tilt one after the other of the divider plates relative to the longitudinal partition to free the ice cubes in the conventional manner.

While the invention is disclosed mainly as embodied in a grid especially constructed to accommodate the polyethylene cover, it will soon appear that covers may be provided designed to be applied to existing grids of the various types available.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which-- FIG. 1 is a plan view of a refrigerator ice cube tray, the grid of which is equipped with a cover made in accordance with our invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional detail on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

H6. 4 is a section in the plane of the line 2-4. looking at one of the divider plates;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the polyethylene cover by itself;

FIG. 6 is a similar view of another cover of slightly modified or alternative construction;

FIG. 7 is a sectional detail on the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section through an ice cube tray, showing use of a cover like that of FIG. 6 on the removable grid, and

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional detail of one end portion of an ice cube tray, showing another cover applied to the upper edge portions of the divider plates of the removable grid.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring to the drawing, and at first to FIGS. 1 to 5,

the reference numeral 1i) designates a conventional form of ice cube tray which may or may not be equipped with a handle on the front end for handler removal from the freezer compartment in the refrigerator. An otherwise conventional removable grid structure is indicated at 11 in connection with the cover 12 provided thereon in accordance with our invention. The longitudinal partition 13 of the grid is entirely conventional and equipped with the usual pivoted lever 14 on one end on the top thereof for the progressive actuation of upper sections 15 that are slidable endwise with respect to a single lower section 116 to free the ice cubes in the usual way, but the transverse divider plates 17 are provided with upwardly extending T-shaped middle portions 18 to define notches 19 in the opposite sides thereof into which the opposite edge portions of the longitudinally slotted middle portion 20 of the flexible and resilient cover 12 are entered, thus making for easy assembly or disassembly, and at the same time avoiding any interference whatsoever with the normal functioning of the grid when the lever 14 is raised to actuate the slidable sections 15 of the partition 13 and tilt one after the other of the divider plates 17 relative to the longitudinal partition to tree the ice cubes in the usual way. The cutting away of the middle portion 20 leaves enough of an opening on both sides of the longitudinal partition 13 so that there is nothing to interfere with the easy filling of the tray with water. We have found polyethylene ideal for the cover l2 because it does not adhere to the ice and the cover will not interfere with easy removal of the ice cubes if the tray happens to be filled to a level where the cover 12 comes in contact with the ice cubes. If desired, the divider plates 17 may be provided with horizontal guide lines, as indicated at 21 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, showing the recommended level (spaced a predetermined distance below the level of the cover 12) beyond which the tray should not be filled with water, to insure production of ice cubes of an ideal size and uniform shape and freedom from any objectionable amount of contact with the cover in the expansion incident to freezing. The guide lines 21 are easily visible through the opening 20. While we have mentioned polyethylene, it should, of course, be understood that we do not thereby mean to limit the use of our invention to that specific material, inasmuch as there are doubtlessly many other plastic materials and other materials that could be used to similar advantage. In passing, attention is called to the fact that the outer edges 22 of the cover 12, while shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 as having actual contact with the inside of the tray ill, need not be so disposed for the proper functioning of the cover as a splash and spill guard, because We have found that the cover may have a fairly loose fit and still function correctly. Evidently surface tension is enough to prevent the water from running out if the tray is tilted a little this way or that way in carrying it from the sink to the refrigerator. One would have to be exremely careless in the handling of a tray equipped with a cover in accordance with our invention to spill any water, or else the tray would have to be filled up to or beyond the level of the cover to make spillage at all likely.

In the construction shown in FIGS. 6-8 the cover 12' is not punched from sheet material like the cover 12, but is molded of polyethylene or other flexible resilient plastic material so as to provide wide downwardly tapering edge portions 23 designed to conform to the inclination of the walls of the tray 10, as shown in FIG. '8, and fit fairly closely inside the tray. The middle portion of the cover 12 is open nearly the full length thereof, as indicated at 20' in FIG. 6, and has notches 24 provided therein at spaced intervals where the notched portions 19 of the divider plates 17 are interengaged with the cover in the assembling of the cover on the grid 11 in the same way as described above in the other construction. The present cover, however, has upwardly and inwardly inclined projections 25 on the opposite sides of the opening 26 between the notches 24 tightly engaging the divider plates 17 to reduce likelihood of splashing or spilling if the tray happens to be filled a trifle above the level of the guide lines 21 to the point where the cover 12 of the other construction would necessarily allow overflow from the middle opening- 20. Here again, however, it should be understood that even though the edge portions 23 are shown in contact with the inside of the tray, that is not essential to the correct performance of the cover 12, because the cover will perform its function satisfactorily even though it has a fairly loose fit inside the tray, due evidently to surface tension prohibiting spillage between the edges of the cover and the walls of the tray.

The cover 12a shown in FIG. 9 is molded of polyethylene or other suitable plastic material the same as the cover 12' and has its outer edge portions 23 formed in the same way as the edge portions 23 of that cover and has a longitudinally extending middle opening, like those shown at 20 and 20' in FIGS. and 6, to facilitate filling of the tray with water. However, it should be understood that the grid 11 in this form is of any conventional construction, that is to say, the divider plates 1'7 are not specially formed with the T-shaped portions 18 for interlocking engagement with the cover 12a, but instead, the cover has molded integral with the bottom thereof grooved downwardly projecting ribs 26 into the grooves 27 of which the upper edge portions of the divider plates 17' are pressed so as to attach the cover 12a onto the top of the grid 11 by means of these connections 26-27. It will, of course, be understood that the guide lines 21 to indicate the recommended level of filling may be provided on the divider plates 17' and be visible in the same way as in the other forms. Here again, while We have shown the cover 12a as having the edge portions 23 engaging the inside of the tray, that is not actually necessary for the correct performance of the cover, because the cover will perform satisfactorily if it has only a fairly loose fit in the tray.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advmrtages of our invention. The appended claims have been drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

We claim:

1. In a freezing device comprising a container having a removable metallic grid defining ice pockets therein adapted to be filled with water to a certain level, a cover of flexible resilient non-metallic material connected inwardly from its outer edges to the grid and fitting loosely at its outer edges and independently of its connections with the grid only on the inside of said container below the top thereof and having a central filler opening communicating with the inner portion of the pockets, said cover providing a water seal by its engagement around the outer periphery thereof with the side walls of the container whereby Water is retained within said container by surface tension against spilling frombetween the cover and container wall in the event of tilting of the container.

2. In a generally rectangular grid structure for a generally rectangular freezing and storage container for ice cubes, comprising a longitudinal partition, and transversely disposed spaced parallel divider plates, certain of said plates having upwardly projecting T-shaped portions on the middle thereof extending both ways from the partition, a rectangular cover for said grid structure of flexible resilient material and of a size to fit freely inside said container, said cover having a longitudinally extending opening provided in the middle portion thereof that is narrow in relation to the T-shaped portions, and said cover being disposed over said divider plates and having the portions thereof on opposite sides of said opening engaged under said T-shaped portions so that the cover forms a part of the grid assembly for removal therewith from or entry therewith in the container.

3. A structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cover i is of molded plastic material having the peripheral edge portions of increased thickness and conformed on the outside thereof to the inclination of the inside walls of the container.

4. A structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cover is of molded plastic material having upwardly extending splash and spill guard projections on opposite sides of said opening between the divider plates.

5. In combination with a grid structure of relatively rigid material for use in a freezing and storage container for ice cubes to define the ice cube pockets therein, a cover of relatively flexible material for the top of said grid structure attached to and removable with said grid structure from the container and of dimensions to engage around its periphery only the inside of the container below the top thereof for a surface tension type seal.

6. In combination with the relatively rigid divider plates of a grid structure for use in a freezing and storage container for ice cubes to define the ice cube pockets therein, a cover of relatively flexible material for the marginal portions of the top of said grid structure, said cover being of dimensions to engage around its periphery only the inside of the container below the top thereof for a surface tension type seal and having means flexibly attaching the same to the upper edges of the divider plates.

7. In combination with the relatively rigid divider plates of a grid structure for use in a freezing and storage container for ice cubes to define the ice cube pockets therein, a cover of relatively flexible material for the marginal portions of the top of said grid structure, said cover being of dimensions to engage around its periphery only the inside of the container below the top thereof for a surface tension type seal and having means for flexibly attaching the same to the upper edges of the divider plates, said cover being of molded plastic material and said means comprising spaced parallel rib portion of said cover molded integral with the bottom of said cover having grooves provided therein in which the upper edge portions of said divider plates fit.

8. A structure as set forth in claim 7 wherein the peripheral edge portions are formed of increased thickness and conformed on the outside thereof to the inclination of the inside Walls of the container.

9. As an article of manufacture, a grid cover for use in an ice cube tray resting on top of the grid therein but separate therefrom, the same comprising a rectangular substantially planar sheet of flexible, resilient, non-metallic material conforming peripherally in size and shape closely only to the inside of the ice cube tray at the elevation in said tray below the top thereof in which it is to be used, the peripheral edges of the sheet being in downwardly converging relation for surface to surface contact with the inside of the ice cube tray, and said sheet having a longitudinally extending opening provided in the middle portion thereof that is wide enough for running water through it into the tray when the cover is in place over the grid in the tray while still leaving a sufiicient width of material alongside the opening to serve as a splash and spill guard.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,019,617 February 6 1962 Sylvester A. Malthaner et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4L line 36, strike out "of said cover and insert the same after "portions" in line 41 same column 4.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of July 1962.

Ate

DAVID L. LADD ERNEST W. SWIDER Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

